Inside Hoops – Page 800 – NBA Blog

Alec Burks suffers fractured left fibula

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks:

$Alec Burks suffers fractured left fibula$

Burks (6-6, 211, Colorado) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on his left leg this morning at University of Utah Health Care’s Orthopaedic Center. Following today’s examination, Jazz physicians Dr. Travis Maak and Dr. David Petron confirmed that Burks suffered a fractured left fibula. Burks was also previously diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms by the Jazz medical staff.

Both injuries resulted from a fall suffered after being fouled during a shot attempt with 34.6 seconds remaining in the second quarter of Saturday night’s game vs. the Los Angeles Clippers.

No surgery is required and Burks will remain out indefinitely. Further updates will be provided when appropriate.

One of three players to have appeared in every game this season for the Jazz, the fifth-year guard is averaging a career-high 14.3 points (third on the team) on a career-best 38.7 percent three-point shooting, with 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.1 minutes in 28 games (three starts). His 14.4 points per game as a reserve rank third in the NBA.

Hawks shining with Kent Bazemore as starter

Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution reporting on the Hawks, who are 20-12, which is the second best record in the Eastern conference:

Hawks doing well with Kent Bazemore as starter

Kent Bazemore downplays his move back into the Hawks starting lineup.

However, the team’s record is hard to ignore.

The Hawks are 15-5 with Bazemore in the starting lineup, including their current six-game win streak. The run began one game after he was re-inserted on Dec. 14 in a home loss to the Heat even as Bazemore scored a season-high 28 points. The Hawks are 13-4 when Bazemore starts at small forward with the regular unit.

“Everything is starting to come together,” Bazemore said Saturday before the Hawks’ 117-98 win over the Knicks.

Wizards eye return of Bradley Beal

The Wizards (14-14) have gotten a team-high 19.8 ppg from shooting guard Bradley Beal this season. But Beal has played in just half of the team’s 28 games so far this season. Here’s CSN MidAtlantic reporting the latest:

If all goes according to plan with Bradley Beal, the Wizards are “hopeful” that the shooting guard will begin non-basketball activities this week.

Beal was diagnosed Dec. 11 with what the Wizards called “the beginnings of a stress reaction” in his lower right leg for the fourth time in his fourth NBA season.

“Everything looks good,” coach Randy Wittman said Sunday. “He feels good. … Maybe he’ll start doing something. Obviously, nothing on the court.”

Blake Griffin injured, will be re-evaluated in two weeks

The L.A. Clippers announced today that forward Blake Griffin suffered a partially torn left quad tendon during last night’s win over the Lakers. Griffin underwent an MRI this morning that revealed the injury.

The Clippers leading scorer did not accompany the team to Utah and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Griffin is averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 30 games (all starts) this season for the Clippers.

Video: Larry Nance Jr scores on his own basket

The Lakers are having a tough season. Here’s Larry Nance Jr generously helping the wrong team:

And, here’s Larry Nance Jr on Twitter having fun with it:

Sorry @SHAQ this happened to be in my stocking today.. Maybe I should take up volleyball as a hobby

A fun Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins story

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting an old story about two key Kings:

Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins laugh about it now.

Cousins was a rookie known more for being a hothead than a hot talent. Rondo was an All-Star but also known for being a hothead.

So when Rondo’s Boston teammate Kevin Garnett tumbled and landed next to the Kings’ bench and Cousins stood over him, Rondo did what came naturally.

He shoved Cousins.

“That just was just him taking up for K.G.,” Cousins recalled recently. “I respect him for that.”

That respect has grown as the two became teammates this season.

Sixers trade for Ish Smith, waive Tony Wroten

Sixers trade for Ish Smith, and waive Tony Wroten

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today the team has acquired point guard Ish Smith from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for two second-round picks.

In a related move, the Sixers waived guard Tony Wroten.

We at InsideHoops.com think this move is good for Smith. After a very good November, he’s been benched in December. In Philly, he has a clear shot at a bigger role.

Smith, a five-year veteran, has appeared in 27 games this season and is averaging nine points, six assists and under two turnovers in 23 minutes per game. He is fifth in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.42-to-1), sixth in assists per 48 minutes (12.0) and ranks among the top 20 in assists per game. He is currently the only player in the NBA this season who has at least 150 assists while committing 45 or fewer turnovers.

Smith appeared in 25 games (starting 14) for the Sixers during the 2014-15 season, where he averaged 12 points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal in 27 minutes per game.

Markieff Morris receives two-game suspension

The Phoenix Suns have suspended forward Markieff Morris for two games for conduct detrimental to the team. Morris will serve the suspension in the Suns’ next two games, Dec. 26 vs. Philadelphia and Dec. 28 vs. Cleveland.

According to the Arizona Republic, here’s what happened:

“In one of their more advantageous scenarios of the season, the Suns posted another dreadful loss with play so frightful and no signs of stopping. The bow on Wednesday night’s stocking of coal came when Markieff Morris added to a season of distraction by harkening back memories of Robert Horry’s towel toss at Danny Ainge by tossing a towel toward coach Jeff Hornacek in Wednesday’s fourth quarter.

The Suns lost 104-96 at Talking Stick Resort Arena to a Denver team playing a night after losing at home to the last-place Los Angeles Lakers and was missing five players (two starters) with no backup point guard available.”

NBA Eastern conference doing well this season

Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on the NBA Eastern conference, which so far this season has collectively been around as good as the West:

For so many years, analysts and fans used to refer to the collection of teams in the East as the Leastern Conference or the Other Conference because the West was so dominant. Yes, the West still has the two best teams in the league with the Golden State Warriors, the defending champions, and San Antonio Spurs.

But this season has shown there is more of a balance of talent throughout the NBA. Entering Wednesday, 10 teams in the Eastern Conference possessed a winning record, double the five it had last season on Dec. 23. The East also had a winning record – 85-84 – against teams from the West through Wednesday’s games.

The Indiana Pacers are one of the many reasons the East has regained its footing. A resurgence from Paul George and a remodeled offense from coach Frank Vogel has pushed the Pacers from out of the playoffs to one of the conference’s better teams. Yet the Pacers understand their place in the standings can change quickly if they have a losing streak or win three consecutive games, as they did last week.

Knicks, Robin Lopez chemistry still in development

The Knicks (14-16) are getting 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game from defensive-minded center Robin Lopez. So far, he hasn’t delivered the impact Knicks brass hoped he would. Here’s the New York Post with insight:

The riddle of RoLo continues.

It’s little secret why the Knicks have lost two in a row during an 11-game stretch against winning teams. In both losses, to the Magic and Cavaliers, shooting guard Arron Afflalo was lousy (8 of 25). Carmelo Anthony missed Wednesday’s contest in Cleveland, and reserve power forward Kyle O’Quinn was out both defeats with a sprained ankle, showing how valuable he has become to Derek Fisher.

But one of the more under-the-radar issues is the season’s biggest enigma, starting center Robin Lopez, their most expensive free-agent signing at four years and $54 million. Nobody is more confused than Fisher in his attempt to place Lopez in a role that can positively affect the outcome.

Fisher benched Lopez in Cleveland for the game’s final 13:14. On Monday against the Magic, Fisher stuck with Lopez on Orlando center Nikola Vucevic and got burned for it. So Lopez never saw the Quicken Loans Arena court in the fourth quarter despite the absence of Anthony and O’Quinn.